The earliest inhabitants of the Colorado River Valley were the Mojave people. The rich soil and plentiful water provided the valley’s natives with the necessities to create a prosperous farming community. According to Mojave legend, life began on Spirit Mountain, the highest peak visible from the Bullhead City area.[8]

The first account of European contact was with Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz. He documented his travels in Northwestern Mohave County in 1540.[9] He accounts of meeting a large population of natives who referred to themselves as the Pipa Aha Macav, meaning “People by the River”.[10] From “Aha Macav” came the shortened name “Mojave” (also spelled “Mohave”). While Mohave County uses the modern English spelling, the tribe retains the traditional Spanish spelling “Mojave”. Both are correct, and both are pronounced “Moh-hah-vee”.[11][12]